Akimel O’odham - Pima Basket with Squash Blossom Design [SOLD]

It was documented around 1900 that basket making was practiced in nearly every Pima home.  Twenty years later it was stated that not one out of ten women could weave a creditable basket.  In that 20 years, commercial utilitarian vessels became available so it is not unexpected that they would replace hand-woven baskets for home use.  Since collectors and tourists were only willing to pay one to two dollars for a basket, the women realized that it was not worth their time to make them any longer.  They could earn that per hour doing field work.

Trays were the most common form of basketry made by the Pima Indians.  They varied in size and shape as well as design.  The Pima women were very particular to sew close even stitches in their baskets.  This small tray is decorated with what we have interpreted to be the squash blossom.

Condition: this Akimel O'odham - Pima Basket with Squash Blossom Design is in excellent condition

Provenance: from a member of the Balcomb family

Reference: Indian Baskets of the Southwest by Clara Lee Tanner, University of Arizona Press, Tucson. 1983.